The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05
Reforms He Has Wrought in Mexico,
Banking, Railroad and School Sys-
TENS He Has Established.
Enterprise Apparent Everywhere
and Mexican Credit Restored.
The Extraordinary Railroad Devel
opment of the Country.
American Investments in Mexican
Business-overbearin and Un-
friendly Yankees-Foreigns
Influences.

friendly Yankees-Foreign
Influences.
New YoRK, Dec 4.-The New York
Herald says: Gen. John W. Foster,
formerly minister TO Mexico, returned
here a few days ago from u visit TO the
City OF Mexico, which enabled him 10
compare the condition OF the country with
what il was in the pcriod-seven or eight
years ago-when he lived there officially.
1t will be seen by what he says that he
noticed many Improvements.
Mr. Foster referred TO press telegram
from FL Poso, TO the effect that he had
gone to Mexico TO make Investigations in
behalf of the government at Washington,
respecting the alleged outrages upon Amer
lean citizens, which report and the inter
view credited TO him he characterized as
pure inventions Of the correspondent. His
visit to Mexico had no official character
whatever
PEACE AND ORDER PREVAIL.
He was much gratihcd, he said, to
note the great progress which Mexico had
made in the seven years which had elapsed
since his residence in that country. The
most prominent improvement was the
continued reign OF peace, and the conse-
Qucnt order and security throughout the
land. During a great part OF the time that
Mr. Foster resided in Mexico, he said,
revolution and outlawry were prevalent;
but soon after President Diaz assumed the
government, new era OF peace began 20
prevail, and eight or ten ycars have passed
without any revolution or general disorder,
and the effect has been OF the most bcnc6-
cent character. Formerly the highways
were infested with brigands; today there
is more security for the traveller than in
many parts OF the United States.
BANKS AND CURRENCY ESTABLISHED.
Peace, he said, is the great gain which
| Mexico has made OF late years, but with
| peace have come Us usual accompanying
! blessings. Commerce has greatly enlarged,
and is today probably in a more satsiac-
| tory condition than ever before. Seven
| wears ago there was only single bank in
| the whole republic. and silver was the
only currency. Now there Is a well rcgu-
lated banking system under government
| control, with national and private banks IN
! evnry important city and commercial cen
ter, ana an Nocrodited paper currcncys In
tcrnal exchange, which was Gprmcrly~at a
ruinous rate, owing TO the insecure roads
aud want oi easy communication, has
fallen 20 a minimum quotation. The In
terror custom-houscs which existed on the
border of every state, and which were ~
great n barrier to free commerce, have been
entirely abolished.
MEXICAN CREDIT RESTORED.
The administration Of governmental ai-
fairs has also experienced the blessings OF
peace. Its most noticeable effect is seen
In the restored public credit. With only
| Fpasmolic efforts, limited Ia brief periods
Of interest payments, the history Of the
public debt has been one OF dcialcatiOn
and failure from the early days Of the re-
public=a necessary result Oi continued
revolutions. Il has been the great amhi.
ton of President Diaz to bring about q
permanent change in this regard, and hc
has apparently been entirely successful.
The foreign debt, which has been IN de
fault Tor twenty-five years, has been al
iusicd, and the interest on Il is being reg
ularly and promptly paid, both on London
and Mexico. A. a consequence there has
been a marked advance in all government
securities. Peace las also Afforded an op.
porinniiy 10 devote attention tO financial
administration and 10 reforms Ia the col.
lection and disbursement oi the public
revenues. Government receipts have
largely increased. and the stories Of cor.
rupt0n In the custom.houscs aud tax oil.
ccs, formerly ~ current, are now seldom
heard. The federal receipts arr now nearly
double those Of seven years ago.
RAILROADS AND ANEmcAN GOODS USED.
Probably the most notable change brought
about by the era 0i peace has been ~ the
railroad development ol the country. Sever
ycnn ago there WIS only the one railroad
from Vera Cruz to the City Ut Mexico, Will
few insignificant branches in all les
than 900 miles. Since that date the rail
road system has increased tcniold, now up
proximaiing 1000 miles and uudly In
crcasing. Some disappointment has beer
manifested because the railroad conslruc
ton hal not been followed by the am'
development ~ marked the extension o
! railroads in the western States and Terri
tories Of our country, but, Mr.. fOstc
said. the conditions and habits of the tw,
peoples were widely different The Mcxi
cans are slow 10 adopt new methods, an'
the system of commerce and agticuliur
there could not BE- changed In n day or
year, even II IL should b. found desirable
? But marked advance had already takci
: place, aud the demand for American good
I was growing. lie was told oi Mcxicnl
! plantation whore ~ many a. 80 America
: ploughs were In use, aud Of ten railrOal
cars loaded with American wagons In
I single train, as also Of immense quantiiic
a Of mining aud other machinery, whicl
, was daily coming In over the railroads.
, TREE SCHOOLS ADOPTED.
In the Last few years the icNrnl an'
. State governments had done tfuch To- On
d courage and establish gcne"ii free schoo
Z system. Much opposition and ohstfnnc
!. ton had been put IN iAcir way by th
I. clergy. but the ciyilgov'rnmcnt recognize
H. duty 20 provide or the education Q
the masses. aud frS schools had multi
Piled all over tic republic. While M
foslrr was In tlo City Of Mexico the Con
}. vcs was c,gagcd In discussing a bill
4 making education In the federal distric
4 compulsory, and such law was alrcad
= In force IN some Of the States. The CON
= inc generation 0i Mcxicans will show
!. gpai advance In education aud intellI
y grscc over the present one.
= ,urnicAx MONEY ~ MEXICAN BrslNEs'
Nh What about American investments an
d interests In Moxico2
/ fTl,,,s. -, uiVuadv tHrs0 nud daily inrfpni